I have a question: are people who have lost work due to a work injury (workers comp) ever eligible to be covered by unemployment pay directly following the loss of the job that they were injured on?
My workers comp case is coming to a close, the settlement will be very small, California doesn't offer much in the way of physical therapy, and the nature of my permanent disability along with my resume creates a grim outlook on my job prospects. I am hoping that I could apply for unemployment. Does anybody have any experience with this?

I looked on California's Employment Development Department's site...
http://www.edd.ca.gov/default.htm

This is what I found for unemployment pay eligibility:
Eligibility

Meeting Eligibility Requirements

An individual who files for unemployment insurance benefits must meet specific eligibility requirements before benefits can be paid. Individuals must:

• Have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim
• Be totally or partially unemployed
• Be unemployed through no fault of his/her own
• Be physically able to work
• Be available for work which means to be ready and willing to immediately accept work
• Be actively looking for work
• Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed
• Be approved for training before training benefits can be paid

I cant tell for sure if you would be eligible... If you are unable to physically work I don't believe you would be eligible. You may want to give your EDD a call there is a link to telephone numbers on the left side of the link given above.

Have you applied for Social Security Disability?? If you are unable to work SSD would be the best step for you.

I wish you the best.

Abbie

You are the best Abbie!! Thank you so much for the hand pointing in the right direction!! I'm off and running!

Anybody receiving these benefits who has also been through the WC system, I welcome your personal accounts too Thanks for your help!!